Coupling for separable members



Oct. 13, 1931. o. BEARDSLEY COUPLING FOR SEPARABLE MEMBERS Fi led March29. 1928 JfL'L I II II wuunmunn. u.

wuemko z Erie L E1Eard5 l E L{ Fetented Get. 13, 19 31 tam STATES Dec-fA.

I ORIE L. BEABDSIIEY, F GARY, INDIANA 0015mm FOR SEPARABLEHMEMBERSApplication filed March 29, 1928. 'SeriaLIN'o. 265,688.

enenrnnunnnn THE Aer ormancn s, 1883;AS AME innn APRIL 30, 1 928; 370 0.e. 757) The invention describedherein, if patented may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without thepayment to melof any royalty thereon.

' view, my invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination ofparts and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation'of a gun carriage whose trail isprovided with the improved coupling;

' Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the coupling;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the coupling;

Fig. i is a detail view partly in side elevation and partly in sectionof the connection between the two portions of the trail.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a portion of one of thetrail sections. Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

1 There is shown a gun carriage comprising wheels 5 and an axle 6 and atrail 7 which is divided intermediate its length to form the axlesection 8 and the spade section 9. Each section is formed of spacedparallel rails 10 rigidly connected by transoms'll. In the adjoiningendsof each of the rail-s 10 is secured a frame, the forward frames 12provided-with a pair of apertured ears 13 and the rear frame 14 providedwitha single apertured ear 15 having an elevated lateral projection 16designed to rest onone of the J ears 13 to -facilitate-alinement of theears and for an additional purpose which will hereinafter appear.Secured to the transom 11 of the axle sec tion 8 is a housing 17 havingcylindricalportions 18 in alinement with the ears 13L In these cylindersare disposed hinge pins 19 interconnected by a system of bars 20, 21,and 22 which constitute a double toggle joint. The intermediateactuating bar 21 is'centrally pivoted in the housing 17 and is providedwith an upstanding apertured lug 23 through which a tool may be placedto rotate the bar 21 and by extending or flexing the 1 togglearrangement insert or retract the pins 19 fromthe apertured ears 13 and15. A In order to provide rigidity to the joint which is establishedbetween the two sections of the trails one set of the frames, in thisinstance the forward frames 12, are formed with a projecting finger 24having a ball end 25 which when the sections of the trail are coupledenters into socket 26 on the floor plate of the frame 14. The operationof coupling the sections of the 'trails is carried out by elevatingtheir adjoining ends above the normal coupled position, as shown in Fig.1, t0 provide sufficient relative inclination which will per- 35 mit theintroduction ofthe ball end ofthe finger 24 into the socket 26. lVhenthis is accomplished the adjoining ends are lowered until the lateralprojection 16 on the ear 15 comes into engagement with one of the 6 ears13 thereby preventing relative lowering movement of the spade section ofthe trail I with respect to the axle section and by virtue of theconstraint of the ball and socket connection which is maintained as aconsequence of the action of the projection 16 the connecs tion thus farused will be rigidas regards lowering and the operatorswho havebeen'handling the trail sections may release their hold. The projectionx16 byreason of its '100 j was curvature 27 conforming to the ear 13 willarrest the lowering movement at a point which insures the alinement ofthe apertures in the ears 13 and 15. V

In uncoupling, the pins 19 are retracted and the adjoining ends of thetrail sections are raised until the finger 24: maybe withdrawn from thesocket 26.

I claim: V 1' 1. A gun trail comprising rigidly spaced rail membersdivided intermediate theirlength to form two sections, a knuckle jointbetweenthe: adjoining ends of each of the rail members of the sections,a double toggle mechanism carried by one of the rail sections forinserting and retracting the pivot pins of the knuckle joints and a balland socket connection established between the adjoining ends ofthe railmembers upon bringing the rail members together in a position other thanthe ultimate position of these members.

2. A gun trail comprising rigidly spaced rail members divided.intermediate their length to form two sections, a knuckle joint betweenthe adjoining ends of each of the rail members of the sections, a doubletoggle mechanism carried by one of the trail sections for inserting andretracting the pivot pins of the knuckle joints and means for renderingthe knuckle joint inflexible, said means brought into play upon bringingthe rail members together end to end.

3. In a coupling, a pair of membershaving ears of a knuckle joint ontheir adjoining ends, a disengageable pivot pin for said knuckle joint,a connection established between the adjoining ends of the members uponbringing said members together before the pin is inserted for renderingthe knuckle joint inflexible and cooperating means on the ears of saidmembers for assisting theconnection'in holding the members semi-rigidlyina plane perpendicular to the pivot pin be.- fore the pivot pin isinserted. g

4. In a coupling a pair of members having elementsof a knuckle joint ontheiradjoining ends, a disengageable pivot for said knuckle jointand aball and socket connection established between the adjoining "ends ofthe members uponbringing said member together for rendering the knucklejoint in.- flexible.

1'5. In a coupling, a pair of members having interfitting elements of aknuckle joint on their adjoining ends, a disengageable pivot pininsertable through the interfitting elements, and meansimmovably carriedby the adjoining ends of the members and cooperat ing to immobilize thejoint, said means brought into cooperative positionin theact of bringingthe members togetherend'to end.

56. In a coupling, a pair of members having interfitting elements of aknuckle joint on their adjoining ends, a disengageable pivot pininsertable through the jinterfitting ele:

,ess

ments, and means 'immovably carried by the adjoining ends of the membersand cooperating when the members are assembled to immobilize the joint.

7, In a coupling, a pair of members having interfitting elements of aknuckle joint on their ends, a disengageable pivot insertable throughthe interfitting elements and means on theinterfitting element of onemember engageable with the interfitting element of an other member forfacilitating alinement of said elements.

"8. A gun trail comprising rigidly spaced rail members dividedintermediate their length to form two sections, a knuckle joint betweenthe adjoining ends of each of the rail members of the sections and adouble toggle mechanismoarried by one of the trial sections forinserting and retracting the pivot pins of the knuckle joint.

ORIE L. BEARDSLEY.

